Cable equalizing mechanism



Sept. 6, 1932. LE ROY H. KIESLING CABLE EQUALIZI NG MECHANISM Filed July28, 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVIENTOR:

BY ATTORNEY 1 P 1932- LE ROY H. KIESLING 1,876,302

CABLE EQUALI ZING MECHANISM Filed July 28, 1951 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR:

*r' A TTORNEYS.

p f 1932- Liz ROY H. KlESLlNG 1,876,302

CABLE EQUALIZING MECHANISM Filed July 28, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z7 J"A77 /,777f/// l I 2 3050 32 I [U 25- 17 1 2 BAH A 1 .w a B 52 '32 15 I35 5 I 13 IN V EN TOR:

A TTORNEYS.-

Sept. 6, 1932.

LE ROY H. KIESLING CABLE *EQUALIZING MECHANISM Filed July 28, 1931. 4 4Sheets-Sheet 4 I NVENTOR:

BY W A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 FATE? Titt s LE ROY n. KIESLING; or BROOKLYN, NEWYORK CABLE EQUALIZING MECHANISM.

Application filed July as, 1931. Serial no. 553,511.

This invention is a novel cable equalizing mechanism; the embodimentsherein disclosed being designed more especially for the equalizing ofelevator cables, although i the principles are applicable to analogouspurposes where a number of cooperating cables are to be so combined asto share substantially equally the total strain applied to theentiregroup. I

The general obj ects of the invention are to proved efficiency, and ofgreat strengthand durability combined with simplicity andinexpensiveness of construction. A particular object is to afford in anaccurate and practical manner an'equal distribution of the load orstrain upon the several cablessupporting the load, which cables maytravel over a drum, sheave, etc., and are liable to inequalities oftension due to error in mounting, wear of cables or drum, and unequalelongation of cables in operation. Other and more detail obj ects'andadvantages of'the present invention will be explained in the hereinafterfol lowing description of an illustrative embodiment thereof or will beunderstood to those conversant with the subject. To the attainment ofsuch objects andadvantages the present invention consists in the novelcable equalizing mechanism and the novel features of operation,combination and construction herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of anelevator car, its operating cables, and an equalizing mechanisminterposed between the car and cables in accordance with the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is what may be considered a front elevation of themechanism with certain parts cut away to show structural details beyond.

Fig. 3 is a H on the vertical section line 3-8 of Fig. 2'. I

Fig. 4 is a top view and section taken on the horizontal line 44 of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a detail of construction showing amodification.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a modification of thearrangement shown in Figs. 1-4l'. 7

alford a cable equalizing mechanism'of imht elevation taken in sectionFig. 7 is 'a right elevation taken in section on the line 7.7 of Fig. 8,of a modified cable equalizing mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a top View and section taken on the section line 8-8 of Fig.7.

, The invention is applicable to the cables of elevators or otherobjects wherein a'considerable number of cables share the load and areto assume equal strains or tensions. In the form shown in Figs. 1-4 sixcables are asl sumed, which is the usual number in ordinary elevators,but the principles are applicable to 'otherplural numbers of cables, forexample eight cables, as will be described in'connection with Fig.6.Referring first to the cables A.

and the elevator, Fig. 1 shows the cables arranged in pairs, namely aleft outside pair a, a a second or right outside pair 1), b and a midlepair 0, 0 Each cable may have a conventional type of terminal anchordevice and block or swivel, and by these devices each pair of cables isshown attached to the two ends of a short equalizer lever, as is theusual practice with an even number of cables. Thus the cables a and aare pivotally connected to an equalizer leveria which in turn iscentrally fulcrumed at the top of a tension member, connector or'bar A.The parts a, A

and others willherein be referred tozas movable parts, in the sense thatduring any equalization they are subject to movement relatively to theelevator or car; and the elevator and parts rigidly connected with itwill herein be referred to as fixed parts.

As already stated, in referring to an elevator it is intended to includeany equivalent load, such as a counterweight. In referring to cables itis intended to include ropes, chains and the like or even rods orinflexible connectors employed in ways to transmit eithertension orcompression.

The second pair of cables 7), b are similarly shown connected to anequalizer lever pivoted at the top of a tension member or bar B and thecables 0', 0 are pivoted at the ends of an equalizer lever 0, centrallypivoted at the top of tension member C. The cables of each pair aremutually equalized by the short equalizer lever connecting them, and

the remaining problem is the connection of iii! the three tension barsA, B and C to the car in a way to give practical equalization as betweenthem. The upper portion of a passen ger elevator Y is shown, and asusual this may be supported in a square frame of structural members, theupper members or cross head of which comprise a pair of beams orchannels Z, Z which are fixed parts, and on which the equalizingmechanism hereof is mounted.

Some of the fixed parts mounted on the cross head Z, Z include theplates or frame parts 10 arranged at the inner sides of the channels,facing each other, and secured by bolts 11 extending through the frameplates and channels, each plate also having a horizontal flange 12extending beneath each channel Z, taking the load and giving securityagainst the shearing of the bolts 11. Extending from each frame plate 10to the opposite one are a number of cross rods 13, six being shown nearthe upper edge and six near the lower edge of the plates. These rods maybe inserted in apertures in the plates before the plates are insertedbetween the channels, and the plates and rods form a strong fixedinterior frame.

The rods 13 serve not only as cross connections between the frameplates, but they are so arranged as to constitute guides or confiningmeans for the several tension bars A, B and C respectively. Thus, asclearly seen in Fig. 2 each tension bar is closely confined by a pair ofcross rods 13 not only near the top but near' the bottom of the interiorframe. The bars are thus held rigidly in correct vertical positionduring any up and down equalizing movements. At the foot of each tensionbar is shown a cross pin it, constituting a stop or safety deviceadapted to impose a limit to any downward movement of the car relativelyto the group of cables, the stop pins 14 being arranged to be contactedby the cross rods 13 if the latter should descend excessively. Ifdesired, compression springs 15 may be interposed between the stop pin14 on each tension bar and the cross rods 13 thereabove, as shown inFig. 5, this being a modification wherein the spring not merely cushionsthe safety or stopping action, but imposes a constant pressure tendingin some cases to modify and improve the equalization of strain asbetween the several cables.

The operative connections between the tension members or bars A, B and Cand the fixed parts or frame will next be described. At the right orinner side of the left bar A is shown a toothed rack 17. The middle barC at its left side is formed with a similar rack or teeth 18, facing therack 17. The right bar B is shown as provided with rack teeth 19 at itsleft or inner side, and facing the same the middle bar C has rack teeth20 at its right side,'all of these racks being vertically inovable withthe bars or connectors in the sense 85 that they assume differingrelative positions when any stretch or other inequality in the cablesoccurs.

Between the rack 17 on bar A and rack 18 on bar C is shown a left gearmember 22 meshing with both racks. In the embodiment of Figs. 14: thisgear member is formed in two parts in order to afford correct ratios ofmovement and stress. Thus the gear member 22 has a gear portion ortoothed segment 23 of small radius, meshing with the rack 17, and atoothed segment 24 of larger radius meshing with the rack 18, and at theaxis has an axle 25 outstanding at the two sides. The gear member 22 isthus a floating gear running freely on the racks 1'? and 18 during anyrelative movement between the racks, and with a center stud or axle,which axle however may be located differently in accordance with anychanges in the relativelengths of radii of the two segments.

Similarly there is a right gear member 27, substantially symmetricalwith the gear member 22, having teeth or a segment 28 engaging the rack19 and a larger segment 29 engaging the rack 20, with an outstandingaxle 30, constituting the center of both segments or series of teetAccording to the present invention the gear members 22 and 27 do notfloat without control so as to receive unrelated movements withmovements of the tension bars, but they are maintained in a certainrelation to each other and with the fixed parts of the mechanism. Thisis shown as effected by means of a relatively long horizontal rocker orlever 32 capable of swinging about its center, with a longitudinal slot33 engaging the left gear axle 25 and a symmetrical slot engaging theright gear axle 30, so as to govern the relative movements of the twogear members, while permitting the axles to travel outwardly in theslots during any departure from the horizontal position shown. Therocker 32 is shown as composed of opposite side pieces, moving together.The center or fulcrum of the rocker 1s fixedly connected with the crosshead or channels Z, and frame plates 10, for example by studs 35projecting from central recesses in the frame plates and engaging incorresponding recesses at the centers of the opposite side pieces of therocking lever, the studs 35 not extending through but terminating toleave space between the side pieces of the rocker for the accommodationof the middle tension bar C.

From the description given it will be seen that the entire weight of thecar depends from the axle studs 35 of the rocker 32, and that thisweight or load is thus transmitted to the rocker which in turn throughits slotted load thus being transferred by the tension members A, n andc a the small equalizer gear member is distributed unequallyto the tworacks engaging it. Thus taking the left gear member 22 its short or leftradius is only half the length of its long or right radius. The load of3000 pounds will thusbe appor tioned, 2000 pounds being delivered to therack 17 and bar A and 1000 pounds toflthe rack 18 and bar G. Similarlyat 'theright 2000 pounds will be delivered to the rack 19 and barB and1000 pounds to the rack 20 and bar C. The net result is that each of thetension bars A, B and C received 2000 pounds of load, and in each casethis is redistributed so that each individual cable receives 1000 poundsof load. At the same time the movable parts are all relativelyvertically shiftable for equalizing purposes, so that inequalities oflength of cable or. the like are promptly neutralized, while atjthe sametime the proportions and distribution of load are acourately maintained.

The gear members 22 and 27 may becon sidered as floating'oscillators orrockers pivoted at the respective ends of the main rocker, since thereadjusting motion is usually a short one, the outer and inner endsofeach oscillator tilting slightly up or down, and the bars A,B and Cconstituting a system of vertical tension members operatively engagingthe respective ends of the oscillators.

The modification of Fig. 6 is applicable in a case where eight cablesmay be used. The arrangement of cables is substantialy similar to Figs.1-4, except that the middle pair of cables 0, c is replaced by two pairsof cables cl, (Z and e, 6 connected respectively by equalizer levers (Zand e from which are hung tension bars I) and E. In this case the loadscarried by the respective gears 22* and 27* are not to be apportionedunevenly, since each gear cooperates, with a pair of racks, namely racks17 and 18 engaged by gear 22* and racks 19 and 20*,engaged by gear 27*.The gears in this case are simple circular gears with equal radii ofteeth engaging both racks, and as before both gears have their axlestuds engaging in the slotted ends of the rocker lever 32, the center oraxle of which is fulcrumed on the load or elevator. Assuming ,a load of8000 pounds on the axle 35 this will be distributed to the gearsequally, with 4000 pounds on each. The radii being equaleach gear willdistribute to its load to its two racks, imposing 2000 pounds on eachrack, which is communicated by the tension members. or bars A, E, D andB and the equalizer levers a, e, d and b, to impose1000 pounds'on eachcable while at the same time there is complete freedom for relativevertical adjustment to offset inequalities of length of cable.

It is believed to be new with this invention, in one aspect, to providea system of longitudinal rack members and gear members in mutualengagement, interposed between the tension elements that are supportedby the cables and the load element or elevator, and adapted to undergoplay for equalization whiledistributing the stresses to the cables;particularly with the axes of the gear memhers in parallel relation andthe 1431C}: and gear members compactly assembled within a frame attachedto the elevator. In thisaspect a modified embodiment is shown in Figs. 7and 8 arrangedfor equalizing six cables supporting an elevator, althoughunder the principles disclosed the number of cables could be increasedordiminished.

In Figs. 7 and 8 tension members or bars A, Cand B are indicated, asinFigs. 1 to 4;,

each of theses however at its lower end being forked to receive a gear.The elevator cross head or fixed channels Z,.Z may be as previouslydescribed. Between the fixed channel beams is shown a frame, havingsubstantial height and width, to fit securely between the beams, and ofhigh strength. This frame comprises longitudinal or vertical portions 41at both" sides and cross pieces 42 at the top and bottom, withextensions through which the frame is secured by bolts 43 to the flangesof the channels. The longitudinal portions A1 are machined to serve asguides for the racks to be described, and the cross pieces are aperturedfor the vertical movements of the racks.

Sliding within the frame 41, i2 is shown a compactly arranged or nestedsystem of racks, arranged at the two opposite sides of the frame space,with the teeth of each facing inwardly or toward those at the oppositeside. Secured near one corner of the frame space, by pins 14: is avertical rack 45 having fixed relation to the channel beams and elevatorAt the opposite side is a rack A6, which may be designated as a floatingrack as it is not'attached to the frame. Part of the rack 46 faces therack so, but the rack 46 is of double width, its other half facing partof the rack 47, The rack A? is at the-same side as the rack 45, and itis a floating rack partly facing the rack 46 and partly facing the rack48. Rack 48 is a floating rack adjacent the rack 46 and partly facingthe rack 47 and hung from the fork at the lower end of the tension barA, and engaging the racks and 46. The second gear 52 is a lower gear andengages the racks 46 and 47, this gear having its axle in fixed relationto the elevator. The gear 53 is an upper gear, hung from the fork oftension bar C and engaging the racks 47 and 48. Gear 54 is a lower gearfixed to the elevator and engaging the racks 48 and 49. Gear 55 is anupper gear mounted in the fork of tension bar B and engaging with rack49 and fixed rack 50. Mounted on the lower cross piece 42 of the frameis shown a projection or hearing 57 supporting an axle 58 on which thefixed gears 52 and 54 rotate.

This combined assemblage gives effective equalizing action for the threetension bars and therefore the six cables which support them. Thefloating racks 46, 47, 48 and 49 are capable of up and down slidingwithin the frame during any equalizing adjustments of the cables. Theracks 46 and 48 are for convenience shown at substantially the sameadjustment or height while the racks 47 and 49 are shown at the sameheight, but diflerent from that of the racks 46 and 48. Each of the fourfloating racks may be provided at its lower end with a stop pin 60 andat its upper end with a similar stop pin 61, those serving as safetydevices to limit the extreme movements of the racks, in the sensealready described in connection with stop pins 14.

With the mechanism shown in 7 and 8 any relative vertical movement asbetween the positions of the three upper gears, representing changes ofposition or length of the tension bars A, B and C, or the cablessupporting them, will be immediately distributed by the system of racksand gears,

and the load in any adjustment being taken up equally by the bars andcables. By the fixed racks 45 and 50 the elevatormay be said to be hungfrom the upper system 01 gears, but under the control of the floatingracks 46 to 49, which serve to communicate the ad justment and loadbetween the three upper gears and the two fixed racks, the two lowergears also receiving and transmitting part of the load to the racks andupper gears.

The modification of 7 and 8 may be described as involving a system oflongitudinal racks, two of which are engaged by each of the floatinggears carried by the ter- 1 minals of the tension members, and two ofwhich racks arefixed to the load while the remainder are floating racks,together with gears fixed to the load, one less in number than thefloating gears, each engaging two floating racks. The first fixed rack45 meshes with the first floating gear 51, which in turn meshes thefirst floating rack 46, which in turn meshes the first fixed gear 52,which gear meshes the second floating rack 47,

which in turn meshes the second floating gear 48, and so on for anynumberof gears and racks, until the last floating gear engages thesecond or last fixed rack.

The specific embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4 may be described ascomprising three tension bars, the middle one carrying two toothed racksand the outer ones each one toothed rack facing a midc le rack, with twofloating gears each meshing one middle rack and an outer rack andtransmitting to the racks the load received from the rocker; andeach'gear member comprising two pertions, one having twice the radius ofthe other, the shorter meshing with an outer rack and the longer with amiddle rack, whereby the three tension members all receive the same loadstress or tension. The form shown in Fig. 6 comprises four tensionmembers supported by the cables each carrying a toothed rack, the racksfacing each other in pairs, and the two floating gears each meshing withtwo of such racks constituting a pair and transmitting thereto thestress received equally by the gears from the rocker.

A cable equalizing mechanism has thus been described embodying theprinciples and advantages of the invention; but as various matters ofoperation, combination and contion may be modified within the principleshereof it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters exceptto the extent recited in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Cable equalizing mechanism comprising a rocker centrally pivoted onthe load with arms extending laterally at both sides,

a floating oscillator or gear member pivoted at each end of the rocker,and a system of vertical tension members supported by the cables andoperatively engaging both ends of each floating oscillator.

2. Cable equalizing mechanism comprising a rocker centrally pivoted onthe load with arms extending laterally at both sides, a floatingoscillator or gear member pivoted at each end of the rock, and a systemof vertical tension members supported by the cables and operativelyengaging both ends of each floating oscillator; the .floatingoscillators or gear members having their arms or ends so proportioned asto distribute equal fractions of the total weight to the several tensionmembers.

3. Cable equalizing mechanism comprising a rocker pivoted on theelevator with oppositely extending arms, a floating gear member mountedon each arm of the rocker, and a system of vertical racks supported bythe cables and engaging both sides of each floating gear member.

4. Cable equalizing mechanism comprising a plurality of tension memberssupported by the cables, and carrying toothed racks, a plurality of gearmembers each meshing with two of such racks and transmitting stressthereto, and a rocker mounted-on and carrying the load and havingopposite arms connected with the gear members to distribute the loadstress thereto.

5. Mechanism as in claim l and wherein each gear member comprisesportions or seg ments engaging two racks, such gear portions havingradii proportioned inversely to the number of cables to which theytransmit load respectively.

6. Cable equalizing mechanism comprising three or more tension memberssupported by the cables, and carrying four or more toothed racks, guidemeans on the load holding the racks in longitudinal paths, a pluralityof floating gear members each meshing at its opposite sides with two'ofsuch racks, and mounted on the opposite arms of a rocker, and saidrocker, the same mounted on and carrying the load and having oppositearms connected to shift with the respective gear members. V g

7. Cable equalizing mechanism comprising three tension members supportedby the cables, the middle one carrying two toothed racks, and the outerones each carrying one toothed rack facing one of the middle racks, twofloating gear members each meshing with one middle rack and another rackand transmitting stress thereto, and a rocker mounted on and carryingthe load and having equal arms connected with the gear members todistribute the load stress equally thereto; each gear member comprisingtwo toothed portions one of twice the radius of the other, the shortermeshing with an outer rack and the longer with a middle rack, wherebythe three tension members all receive the same stress or tension.

8. Mechanism as in claim 6 and wherein each gear member has anoutstanding axle stud, and the rocker arms have slots engaging such axlestuds and permitting relative play as the rocker rocks.

9. Cable equalizing mechanism comprising four tension members supportedby the cables, and each carrying a toothed rack, facing each other inpairs, two floating gears each meshing with a pair of such racks andtransmitting stress thereto, and a rocker mounted on and carrying theload and having opposite arms connected with the gears to distribute theload stress equally thereto.

10. Cable equalizing mechanism, comprising a plurality of tensionmembers supported by the cables, a load element supporting the load, afloating gear carried by each tension member, a system of longitudinalracks, two of which are engaged by each floating gear,

and two of which racks being fixed to the load and the remainder beingfloating racks, and gears fixed to the load, one less in number than thefloating gears, and each engaging two floating racks.

11. Mechanism as in claim 10 and wherein the first fixed rack meshes thefirst floating gear, whichalso meshes the first floating rack, whichalso meshes the first fixed gear, which also meshes the second floatingrack, which also meshes the second floating gear, and so on until thelast floating gear engages the sec- 0nd fixed rack. 1

12. Mechanism as in claim 10 and wherein there is a frame carried by theload, the racks being arranged in two facing rows nested within theframe, and the gears being arranged on parallel axes between the rows ofracks.

13. Cable equalizing mechanism comprising a plurality of tensionelements supported by the cables, a load element supporting the load, asystem of longitudinal rack members interposed between the tensionelements and load element, said rack members arranged in facing pairsand adapted to undergo relative longitudinal sliding adjustment, and asystem of gear members engaging the facing rack members of each palr andcompelling longitudinal adjustment of such facing rack members inopposite directions.

14. Mechanism as in claim 13 and wherein there is a frame in which theseveral rack and gear members are completely assembled,

said frame carried by the load, and being

